thank you
Alex Islam the winner of the rules you
know exactly where I expect keep
yourself protected when I tell you to
stop you stop if you want to touch
towards Now's the Time God bless
the tension the buzz both palpable
this is one of those sporting events
that you will likely remember
acutely where you were exactly when it
went down
deafening inside the RAC Arena as our
Mega fight gets underway Alexander
volkanovsky is in the green with gold
islamicashev in the black and gold here
we go
see this movement
this is Kiefer volkanovsky
but can he continue doing it for 25
minutes
without Islam forcing a clinch situation
for striking weapons I like for Islam
from the stats or that back leg that
deep kick up the middle we've seen that
land on volkanovsky versus Ortega
obviously the left hand
are two of the biggest weapons the
backhand and the back leg but it's that
teat kick up the middle and the knees
the tie clinchev that's what you got to
keep a look at those are big weapons for
him against the shorter man and
volkanovsky
makashev opens to the body and lands
it's worth pointing out that even though
clearly Islam is the taller guy
it's actually bokonowski with the slight
one inch reach advantage
so that will help him in the Striking
Department
[Applause]
see how smoothly bulk switch to the
stance there
and he believes that that's key
to overload the mind of mahajev to keep
and guessing to confuse him
the set entries and set combinations
when you're striking or you're taking
somebody down based upon the way that
they stand
volkanovsky believes if he continues to
switch it's going to confuse mahajev
pretty good entry there by volkanovski
September we're gonna start seeing some
of those shots soon I have a feeling
that's gonna give bulk a lot of
confidence
oh I think he verbalized let's go right
after he landed
let's go indeed this crowd is ridiculous
folks got to be careful you can't over
commit he can't swing and get Reckless
one of the things that volkanovski said
is that marchette won't take a lot of
risks he's going to be very safe and
we're seeing that early
well mahajev's waiting
you can't wait too long
[Applause]
of course vulcanovski to prepare for
this fight he's been working with a jiu
jitsu Legend Craig Jones
says on the flip side that that is
totally pointless it says jiu jitsu
is not going to help him when it comes
to this situation
well hard to imagine that Islam akashev
has experienced the fight atmosphere
like this
the floor with one knee they both sat
each other down now nice knee for
marchev now this is it this is the real
fight here
that's not where you want to be if
you're vulcanovsky this is the position
where mahajev can stall out the whole
round if he wants to stay here and just
grind the clock out and not let go of
gokanovsky
so vulcanovski was confident because of
the lower stature the lower center of
gravity stepping up in weights he said
he feels like a brick wall said he's
twice as strong as ever
and he's confident he will not hit the
canvas
let's see he's on the hands and that's
what's keeping Michael Chad from being
able to do a whole lot good job by
volkanovski to stay on the hand fight
here
that's what's key staying on those hands
[Applause]
oh beautiful takedown
to the follow-up beautiful job so
makashev one for one as he is able to
get volkanovski down
and that is what makes Islam
[Applause]
and the fence was the key to this
position He Slipped it in and now you
see he's got that right hook on
volkanoski separating volkonosky from
the fence that's what's going to allow
him to keep this position till the end
of the round volkanovski told us after
the Brian Ortega fight he essentially
feels unshokable given the way he was
able to escape well he doesn't have a
neck
we will find out this is the man that
we'll find out this is a face crank or a
neck crank extremely painful
and he wouldn't be the only daggy
standing to have this kind of submission
in a high profile fight
and you see just how calm cool and
collected composed Islam akashev stays
well offensive here late in the round
and that's one of his gifts annik is
that he knows where to rest as well it's
not a complete rest but it's a working
rest you're seeing so he's not using any
energy
on the same thing take your time there's
five seconds
ah I think he likes his job at all
what a way to start the mega fight
now let's take a look right hand
left straight for bulk connected kind of
wobbled him but volkanovsky eight one
here went down to one then of course
Islam fires back straight away there's a
heck apparently blocked by bulk and this
was the beginning of the takedown gets
the rear body lock
tried to roll with it and get top
position but Islam this is what he does
show that right Vault
yes buddy
well if you're looking to hear that
corner audio tonight is probably not the
night
[Applause]
now the key of why that left hand got in
for volcanovsky's in the middle of being
a conventional fighter he switched
stance to land the right hook left
straight that stance switch is hard to
read in the pocket and that's what
volcanovsky does so well
[Applause]
G volkanovski here not moving quite as
much now happy to kind of stand in front
of his opponent
trying to find the range find the right
time to enter
[Applause]
like a bat out of hell when he enters
unable to land much of consequence there
makashev attacks the body
volkanovsky out of range with the right
hand
good body work
the Bodywork for vulcanovski'll be key
that's nice
beautiful wrestling I mean incredible
incredible work I mean he ate a shot no
doubt a little dazed in the madness
grabs hold of a single leg turns it into
a takedown
that is what you're dealing with with
hubby with is the mahajev and that
entire team and people with that style
a volkanovsky expeditiously back to his
feet after that takedown makasha two for
two thus far and this is where mychev
can win the fight and he could stay here
and do this for five rounds might not be
the most fun thing in the world but it's
just how you grind somebody out this is
how you be a specialist in grappling not
a lot of people has ever done this to
volkanovsky
in any way
nice
gets back to the p and that's a huge
knee
and this was the question if he gets
taken down can he get back up the answer
is yes he can
look like Picasso have landed a nice
knee to the body a moment ago under
three minutes now in round two
and now it's vulcanovsky forcing the
takedown and he's really showing just
how strong he is he really is he's able
to twist that position right up and turn
it into a 50 50 position let's see if he
gets his arms out of there yep and gets
to space well these fights he fired with
fire you've got to be offensive is that
okay two can play at that game my friend
[Applause]
subtle stance switches now for
volkanovsky
he's got to be aware that the fence is
right behind him
pushing forward that's nice
takes the center of the Octagon just out
of range
under two minutes here to go in what has
been a competitive round two incredibly
competitive
getting the better of these exchanges
big thing I've noticed is you haven't
seen any Jabs left for volcanovsky and
that's his oh
[Applause]
and there's the power that Islam spoke
about oh and now that
momentarily Retreats remember when Islam
became the lightweight champ it was
because he knocked down Charles Olivera
not because he took him down
oh nice jab from Akash seven now a left
hand
so makashev's starting to find the range
here late round two
that left hand is the same left hand
Justin tafa landed on Parker Porter
right over the top
of the right hand of volcanovsky
same punch
good leg kick for volkanovsky under a
minute to go on the round yeah Islam's
on the hunt now
be way more aggressive
[Applause]
and that's two drops to one for mahat
Chef so far in the stand-up round well
you felt like he had a point to prove in
that department not that he was going to
strictly fight there but
and this is where he's so strong in this
tie clench as well fulkanoski working
through it getting into hand fighting
the right things it's both going through
the tape down there he thought about a
single leg thought about a double
he's got to get on the legs in order to
stop that tie clinch because you can't
let mahajev have his hips back to throw
those knees so you see him getting in on
the groin grabbing that high crotch area
of my chef so he can keep his hips on
the fence and you're seeing just how
strong he is
this is a very competitive fight
as advertised through 10 minutes
we see here the left hand and right now
you see
volkanovsky just whether just weathering
the big shots the March having them
getting out of these tough positions I
mean match has been able to hold
everybody down you see here that's the
second time okanoski's gotten away but
look he goes to the body Michael cheb
comes right over the top with the left
hand I don't know how volcanovsky stayed
on his feet from that one
if they're a round of a possible five
volcanovsky's in the green islamicasha
and black you might have caught Eugene
bearman Telling bulk can't give him any
control time and bokonowsky saying that
he didn't feel strong he asked him
several times Eugene said to vote is he
strong is that now he's not strong very
interesting
oh nice kick and those kicks right there
I mean it's a basic kick but he's into
South Paul stent and he's always
switching volkanovski so it can slip in
here and there
realizing a lot of success on the feet
ate a big right hand there though
[Applause]
you have to wonder about the mindset of
both men I think coming into this one
broken off screen without question
realized he had a very tough opponent
that this was going to be an insanely
hard night at the office did Islam think
that did he expect volkanovski to give
this much of a fight you know to be able
to stop the takedowns to get back to his
feet to wobble him with shots because if
he didn't this might start to demoralize
him a little bit I think he probably did
but he certainly called his shot right
for his first title defense he wanted
bulk wanted him here on the road
certainly the fight has appeared to be
more competitive than the betting line
at the outset two nice kick that Kick's
been Landing all night and that sets up
that left hand
I think what's most interesting to me is
how how the pace is not insane we always
see match have outpace people volkanasi
has been able to kind of slow the pace
down a little bit of mahajev and vice
versa also well he's got his respect
he's hurt my hijab on a couple of
occasions with the power so therefore
you know he's being careful on the
entries he knows taking him down isn't
as easy as his other opponents as well
so therefore he's got to be calculated
[Applause]
[Music]
try to follow it up with the right hand
just missed
but you are right in terms of the energy
expenditure the risk reward
[Applause]
it's usually a much higher Pace from
both these guys Dave really
stifled each other's pace
and I said this leading into this fight
if it becomes a fight like this where
they're clearly very evenly much it
comes down to who's in the better shape
you know obviously we can see here
they're very evenly matched on the feet
bokonowski has the answer toe to the
wrestling and the submission attacks but
who's gonna tie it first because when
somebody starts to Tire the other man
will take over and ultimately win the
fight Listen to This Crowd
beautiful defense you notice volkanovsky
isn't letting that top leg that top hook
hold him up against the fence after
since that first round and that's really
what's keeping him alive in these
grappling situations
couple of big cracks from volcanots get
under two minutes now in round three on
Lake Street Big Time
[Applause]
makashev has landed 54 of his
significant strike attempts 39 for
volcanovsky slightly more volume from
the Challenger
[Applause]
has been sharper in the Striking in this
fight so far 100 without question though
he's definitely found the range he's
definitely landed on the chin when he
sees an opening one shot gets it done
and on the other hand vulcanovsky's
grappling defense has been very very
good
that's why we're still seeing a stand-up
fight here and we haven't seen anybody
challenge match have make him stand up
and now we're seeing it no my hijab has
gone through everybody and made it look
easy pure domination even against
Charles Oliveira volkanovsky has been
cut open on the forehead or so it
appears
nice
number from Islam but it doesn't matter
hit the ground over save
to overhand left to a trip for
volkanovsky on that one and he's rarely
picking up the pace now
wow almost
great takedown defense by Natasha to
stay upright late in the round
ing seconds of round three of a possible
five have you ever heard a crowd like
this
what a fight incredible
Championship rounds coming up
here we see I mean some back and forth
exchanges beautiful body kick by Islam
he's been throwing that all night
again boat goes low rips that lead leg
away from Islam here's a wild exchange
nice elbow gets through from
Incredibly Close round
both men fighting truth and nail
but the corner are volcanov she says we
win the next three
and we take on the lightweight
championship of the world
the biggest weapon of vulcanovski is his
output and his energy and his cardio it
really is I mean he's out working
everybody that he's fought and right now
that's what's keeping him in this fight
is his energy levels have not gone down
he's keeping the pace sixth consecutive
fight in which volkanovsky has fought at
least into a fourth round only once
before against Thiago Moises as makasha
fought into the fourth round he has
never hit a fifth round in his MMA
career
and I think the Southpaw stance in the
length mahajev is really causing a
problem for volkanovsky in the stand-up
for sure
[Applause]
it's just hard for him to land his jab
that's generally how he gets off and he
hasn't been able to land his jab in this
fight of course because he's dangerous
getting in the pocket against Islam but
Islam connected there I gotta say we're
in round four Islam if he wants to hang
on to that belt
he needs to step on the gas
more output I mean essentially from both
men
but this is a close close fight
let's go let's go let's go
running the scoring numbers say John
well total strikes Advantage makashev
same
can be said for the significant strikes
in which he leads 44-36 close fight yep
three takedowns of course from mccarship
none yet on two attempts for royal
canovsky
nice right hand counter acknowledged by
bulk
[Applause]
amazing work
and not against defense and I can't
stress enough what a an advantage that
is for Islam you see look bolt straight
away going for it and look at the way he
took the back I mean come on you have to
appreciate that that was like a ninja
like a python wrapping itself coiling
around this victim and it did look like
perhaps a momentary loss of discipline
for volcanovsky maybe engaging in some
verbal stuff with the makasha corner and
now Islam has control the body that's
why you got to be 100 focused the entire
time
and the worst part is volcanovsky needs
that lock on the other side and it's
blocked by the fence so it's very hard
to get out of this because
volcanovski needs that foot that's up in
the air on the other side of his body to
get out of this body triangle and he
can't flip over because the fence is
blocking him so he's probably stuck here
for the rest of the round
more than likely though I'd agree with
that now volkanovsky's smiling and
grinning he's playing up to the cameras
and whatnot
but he's in a losing position right now
and honestly he would have a better
chance if the lock wasn't up against the
fence like that but being there is
perfect and that's what mahatchab does
so differently is he cuts you off from
the fence so you can't use it to stand
up because they're so good at the wall
walking stuff and they're so good at
using the fence offensively and
defensively they have so many reps that
they know how to keep you from using it
under two minutes here to go in round
four
we'll see if bulkanovsky somehow can
escape
there's a possibility that Islam if you
can shift it then wait over to the other
side he can switch to an arm bar he
doesn't want to this he can nullify the
whole round and not move and and never
have to get out of this yeah but he
wants to finish the fight
dogs talking to him
I think he'd rather stay here than risk
letting go volkonowski to be honest this
is a very powerful position to burn the
clock and take no damage if you're
mahato
and now you won the round this way
it's Ground Control four minutes I mean
nobody's done that no I know that's what
I'm saying towards the end of the round
you can switch to an armbar and if you
don't get it oh well you controlled him
most of the round anyway however vote
doing a great job defending the joke not
an easy thing to do
I mean on paper yes control the hands
fight the wrist etc etc
but against somebody like Islam not easy
at all well none of the hand fighting
Works unless you deal with that body
triangle and the body triangle can't be
dealt with until that lock is on the
floor so the number one problem is stop
by the fence you can't get the lock
where he needs it because of the fence
and that's why volkanowski is so
frustrated I was just about to say you
can't allow himself to get frustrated or
to let this thunderous crowd influence
his movements because one little mistake
and he loses his fight but look at that
amazing
even if this fight doesn't get finished
I think we're going to see it again for
some reason this is definitely going to
happen again
look at this
[Music]
well if there is a fighter with a better
cardiovascular base in the game and
Alexander volcanovsky I'm not sure I've
seen him but bulk could very well be
down three to one here as we hit the
fifth and Final Round yes there's a very
good chance of that however they are
close rounds bulk is in the fight and to
your point the cardio is ridiculous at
the end of that round he was in Islam's
face not sure what he said
but we got one more round
and it's still anybody's fight first
time islamicashev has realized the fifth
round in his mixed martial arts career
beautiful connection with the left hand
for the champ and that's the timing that
we spoke of before
those are huge shots I mean they might
not seem like much but that's what's
keeping vulcanovsky chain check those
shots that land because they're hard and
Powerful
nice slow leg kick for volkanovsky you
know he's going to go for it here in
this Fifth and Final Round
[Applause]
left hand the knees and the tip kicks
were gonna be key he walked right onto
that knee but I tell you what bulk
enough she took it well
hardly took a step backwards
but again the timing of Islam you know
we talk about his wrestling all the time
the Striking tonight has been phenomenal
it's clean well the efficiency in every
Realm of the game Michael is exceptional
right correct 53 off his significant
strikes have landed under four now to go
oh those knees
so smart cut him on that one and that's
what wins fights are Cuts we know that
because damage is how you win the
decisions
according to the judges damaging moments
to be sure and that's a pretty
significant cut now to the left of the
left eye of volcanovski
machav striking it's the best it's
looked and it's because he's been forced
to strike nobody's been able to keep it
on the feet but you're seeing how good
he is now nice but look at this
beautiful
I mean that is in itself so impressive
thank you
three minutes to the side the UFC
lightweight Championship vulcanovski
breaks the clinch and immediately goes
on the attack
but as we said the timing it is sniper
light for Mahajan
I mean think of the pace of a lot of
these guys in three rounds they just
went five and neither of them are
breathing hard
again the engine was perfect and the
counter grappling from volkanovsky he's
got to step over that back ankle see
that the left ankle of my tub he needs
to step on that in order to turn the
corner
but he's got it we've got to see
volkanoski get around that back foot
that he's grabbing
see how he stepped over it now that he
stepped over it he's good wilkinowski's
over that back foot now he's okay there
we go and that pushed him to the single
great job by vulcanowski Perfect Defense
crowd pops his goal gets back to his
feet two minutes to go
those little details are so clutch
ladies and gentlemen that that's
stepping over the ankle changed
everything now volkanovsky's back on the
feet get into damage yeah it was
volcanovski with their body lock and it
gets straight to it
cannot take him down wow but he's trying
easy shots getting lead in the face not
taking a backward step pushing the pace
the entire time meeting Islam head on
I'm very almost
almost what a response defensively by
makash Evan we better laud his cardio
too right yes and we're seeing much have
checked the clock
volkanovski heading him off on the
pressure typical
[Applause]
shoots him down
the biggest moment of the fight and this
is one of his best team positions he
loves the ground and pound here watch
her arm bars from mahachiev the entire
stadium is on their feet
bokonowsky said I can't wait till I see
this man break I'm going to break him
like I've done everybody else with my
cardio and what you're seeing is not a
break but you're seeing volkanovsky use
his cardio to make this an even fight as
he can his cardio is a huge weapon he's
Non-Stop
25 seconds remain
makasha with guard closed eyeing the
clock wow
last attempt from bokonovsky trying to
steal the victory got to seal the deal
you've got a two-way Division champion
what a fight 25 minutes between Islam
because shed and Alexander bulkanovsky
a standing ovation from the capacity
crowd in Perth Western Australia
well Islam akashev
came in
with the Target on his back had to dig
deep
incredible incredible fight by both men
we're not paid for our scorecards might
be your thoughts well questions were
answered could as I've taken down yeah
can volkanovski get back up yes you can
eat other hurts one another with that
question and look at the hook that he
just got he stopped volcanovski from
being able to step over the top by
getting that butterfly hook which gave
him the wizard which stopped the
takedown here and then you see
volkanovsky big left hand get to the
body lock and he trips mod Chev using
more energy that right hand right there
stifled machav he gets behind and
finishes this fight in top position in
his cliche ground and pound this is what
he does so well non-stop offense
non-stop that is the key the pace of
this fight
was ridiculous
incredible fight so much mutual respect
alongside
both sides of this rivalry nice Embrace
for Alexander volkanovski with his cheap
Corner Joe Lopez
seemingly makash have had the lead going
into that fifth round balkanovsky had a
huge moment there but you just never
know
makasha four for nine on his takedowns
striking numbers fairly even all right
one final time tonight here's Bruce
Buffer
ladies and gentlemen after five rounds
we go to the judges scorecards for
decision the judges scored the contest
48-47 48 47 and 49 46 for the winner by
unanimous decision and
and still
Beyond disputed UFC
lightweight champion of the world
The World Is Love
[Applause]